With their second release, this local surf/ska/reggae/rock outfit has really begun to find their own distinctive sound. Current Swell’s debut, 2005’s So I Say, sounded more like a Sublime tribute record, but Protect Your Own shows the boys branching out and really experimenting with new styles. Most notably, there’s a lot more slide guitar and harmonica, adding a grittier, bluesy aspect to their sound, particularly on tracks like the clap-tastic opener “Nailed Up” and “Cursed.” The more ska- and reggae-heavy tunes are still here (“Red Shag Carpet,” “Bring Me Down”) and there’s even a dose of twang (“Booze in Hell”) thrown in for good measure. This is a solid record that shows a real growth in the band.
currentswell.com
myspace.com/currentswell
Genre: Acoustic Folk
Year: 2009
Track List
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01. Nail Em Up
02. All I Need
03. Cursed
04. Young And Able
05. Red Shag
06. Protect Your Own
07. Way It Goes
08. Booze In Hell
09. Wishing Well
10. Bring Me Down
